As of 9:06 a.m. this morning, Anthony Martinez Jr., 20, of Liberal was listed in fair condition by a spokesperson at Wesley Medical Center. The spokesperson added since Martinez was admitted in late March, he has been under hospital protection.

Martinez was the victim of a severe beating allegedly at the hands of a father and son that had an altercation with Martinez on March 28.

Alexander Avila-Ortiz, 20, appeared April 5 in Seward County District Court for a scheduling, while arrangements were made for his father, Eliseo Avila, to have both their cases heard at 1:30 p.m. April 22.

The two were arrested after allegedly beating Anthony Martinez Jr., 20, during an altercation in the 100 block of West Hickory in Liberal.

According to a statement from Liberal Police Capt. Patrick McClurg, both father and son, “beat the man with an object causing severe head injuries.” McClurg added “The man was later transferred to Wichita with life threatening injuries.”

When arrested, both father and son were charged with attempted murder, but Seward County District Attorney Don Scott told other media outlets that if Martinez died, the charges would be changed to second degree murder.

Martinez is not to be confused with Liberal’s Anthony C. Martinez, who is the son of Tony and Linda Martinez, and is not involved in the alleged beating.

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The High Plains Daily Leader and Southwest Daily Times are published Sunday through Friday and reaches homes throughout the Liberal, Kansas retail trade zone. The Leader & Times is the official newspaper of Seward County, USD No. 480, USD No. 483 and the cities of Liberal and Kismet. The Leader & Times is a member of the Liberal Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas Press Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Associated Press.

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